l. u biennium rep0 rf i · 2007. 10. 31. · ouachita mountain shales shales are associated with...

1 1 - 1 -71

a I

I

m I i I I i

4

Mercury in Arkansas:

Biennium Rep0 rf 1993- 1994

U

L.

J -4

A

r b-

Arkansas Mercury Task Force

Arkansas Mercury Task Force

A

SYMBOL COLOR

Pre-screening Sampling Sites Phase 1 Screening Sites

1 0.0 - 0.69 ppm Hg 0.70 - 0.99 ppm Hg Greater than I .O ppm Hg

Figure 2.4. Fish collection sites for mercury (Hg) analysis, 1993-1994.

Arkansas Geological Formations

Figure 4. I . m i o n of the mercury district in Southwest Arkansas and general location of black shales in the h c h i t a Mountah (StanIeylwornble Shies) ad A r b River Valley. The Atoka/McAlester

. I . . . . .:.. ..A. ... r.v .','>.Y ,'# .'.V ,!: .--,.. ..:-.;: El 'I.::. . .. ;;**.::.; .. _a. p;; . .. Arkansas River Valley Shales

Ouachita Mountain Shales

shales are associated with the coal district in the Arkansas River Valley.

4 4

" -

MINERAL RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES OF ARKANSAS

, . . . .. .* . .

1 f f

Bulletin 645

. - * I , . . . - -. . ., . .

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT O F THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF MINES

_ , . . . . , . , . . . ,. . . - . . - . . , . ~ . . . . I ....

1969

I

...

86 MINERAL RESOURCES AND INDUSlRIES OF ARKANSAS

Outlook and Problems Although some Arkansas deposits contain small

tonnages of high-grade managese ore, there has been no production since termination of the Govern- ment's managese stockpile program in 1959. Cur- rent costs of mining and milling manganese ores do not permit competition with imports of foreign ore. Manganese orcs containing 46 tn 48 percent manganese \ y e w 68 to 70 rents: nominal, per long ton unit near the end of 1967. It is estimated that values of $1.60 or $2.40 per long ton unit will be necessary before the Batcsville deposits will he economic.

RcsuIts of rnctalluqical studies indicate that 50 to 75 percent of the contained manganese in man- ganifcrous limstones c.an be recovered as manganese carbonate which contains 45 percent manganese. The recovered mateiial can be converted to battery- grade rnangatiusc and other high-quality manganese compounds. More recent studies indicate that com- parable quantities of rnangancse can be recovered as Inanganesc chloride. Neither proress is com- mercial under current conditions, but continued research to improve recovery may permit eventual utilization of the large resources of manganiferous limestone. Although a substantial amount of mineral dressina research has been done by the Bureau of Mines (98, IOO-~UI, 252-253), additional work may be warranted.

Other promising means of extracting manganese from the low-grade rem rces have been investi-

nf manyniferous limestanc u.Iiercby both man- ganrst: and litnt: \ r ( w rm-ovmd. As much as 75 percent of the contained ~nanganesc !\as recovered and the lime was reportedlb. suitable for cement manufacture. Rccovcry of duai products would enhance economic possibilities of the Bateslrille manganese resources.

St-lrcted refcrencrs: 60, 98, 100-101, 156-158,

ipted. Qne extraction tile \ iod involved calcination

198, 200-201, 206, 3, 271, M-7. 2"" ncn fir

CURY

History and Production The first significant deposit of mercury was dis-

tovrrcd in Arkansas in I93 I . Original production NX short livcd, cncling in 1946 as a result of a sharp derline in p i r e at the end of World LYar 11. Total output of about 11,400 (76-pound) flasks was reported. Recorded ~mduction of mercuv is shown in table 44.

Cinnabar (mercury sulfide) deposits were found in a district that txtcnds about 30 miles from Howard County on the west, across Pike County,

i Table 44.-Reporred Arkansas production of

mercury, I93146

Period Production, 'i&pound flasks

isai-a6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198740. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1941-43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194446 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '239

Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,404

and into CIark County on the east (fig. 7 ) . More than 100 occiirrenrcs were found in the I %-mile- wide aonc, but fewer than I O mines accounted for most of the output.

Definitions and Specifications Although mercury esists as a liquid at normal

temperatures and pressures of the earth's surlace, it is rommnnly found combined nit11 sulfur as the minrral cinnabar. containiug 86.2 pcrccrit nicrcurj and 13.8 percent sulfur. Ilistinctivc physical properties of cinnabar are high-specific gravity (8,0-8.2) , red color, scarlet powder, high luster: and perfect cleavage if in crystals but metallic to dull luster if finely disseminated through rock. Cinnabar is the 01.e mineral in Arkansas deposits.

hlercun produced from ore is knox\m as prime virgin mercury. For government stockpile purchase, it had to be bright and rIean and contain not less than 99.9 pcrccnt mercury. The metal is delivered to market in 76-pound flasks; market prkes ate quoted per flask nl prime iirgin mercury. The high price of tncrcury fosters reclamation and purifica- tion of used mercury by distiI1at;on.

Uses The largest single use of Inerrury in recent !ears

has been in electrolytic prrparation o l chlorine and raustic soda. Scveral tho~isanrl flasks are required initially h cathodes in each new pIant installation. About 8,000 flasks \\.ere required in 1963 to replace losses. Other uses are in mildew-proofing and anti- fouling paints, pharmaceuticals, slime control compounds for paper and pulp manufacture, general laborator! use, dcntal ~~rvparations; lungirides. arnalgamatioti, and mcc iiry lmilcrs,

Important military uses of rnerrury include ful- minate for detonating csplosives, calomel for tracer bullcts, and chemical warfare compounds.

Description of Deposits ,411 major mcrt.iir! deposits throughout the world

are epithermal-dcpositcd by rising \mrm solutions

!

MINERAL COMMODITY REVIEWS 87

at comparatively shaIlaw depths. Half of the domes- tic mines art: less than 200 feet deep.

Cinnabar is found alone or icith pyrite, marcasite, stibnite, copper sulfides, low-temperature arsenides, and other materials. Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks are hosts, especially the last, found near hot springs or volcanic rocks of recent origin. Because of the excellent pigmenting qualities of cinnabar, the deposits appear widespread, but few deposits contain minable quantities of the mineral.

The mercury deposits of Arkansas are in the Athens Plateau. The host rock is sandstone of the Jackfork Sandstone and Stanley Shale of Mississip- pian age. Strata strike germally east-west and dip south an the limbs of sharp folds. Strata and fdds are broken by a major thrust fault from the south and by numcrous tear faults. Smaller S-shaped folds and drag folds were developed coincident with major movements.

Significant ore deposits lie in brokcn sandstone beds in fault zones, at fault intersections, and in permeable strata in folds where mineral-bearing ~ ~ l l ~ t i ~ f i s were trapped by impermeable shale. Ap- parently, the frequency and extent of fractures govern size of the ore deposit. Generally, thin seams of cinnabar fill fractures in sandstone; IocaIly, cinnabar is broadly disseminated in sandstone. Quartz, diskite. pyrite, and rarely stibnite are gangue minerals. Ore deposits at fault intersections are pipelike, and those adjaccnt to single faults, brecciated zones, or parallrl to bedding planes are tabular. Rare, large crystals of cinnabar devcIoped in open fissures in the sandstone. Small quantities of native mercury, c:ilonic~, rglrstmi trj mctacinnnbar, and livingston- ite are found locally.

Mining and Processing Prior to World War 11, mercury was mined in

relatively, small surface ruts, trenches, pits, and glory holes. During the war, many of thc old work- inps !\.ere further developed with both vertical and inclined shafts, adits, drifts, interior winzes, and ~ublevel lvorkings. Most of thew workings were about 100 feet in depth. Little or no exploration pre- ceded mining hy both underhand and shrinkage stoping.

T h e ,grade of ore processed ranged from 3 to 18 pounds of inercury per ton. Rcfnre treatment, the crude o w was hand robbrd and crushed. Heating crushed ores and roncrntratcs in cithrr a retort or ftrrnacr: libcrated the tnercury as vapor, xvhich, in turn. was cooled and condensed to liquid mercury. The collectccl merciiry i k 'as 99.9-pcrrent-pure metal. Dirt and soot transportcd with mercuq

vapor and collected in the dust collectors of furnaces were rerun to obtain additiona1 quantities of mercury.

Simple retorts were well adapted to processing small tonnages of high-grade ore. Multiple-hearth and rotary furnaces were also employed. At peak activity, the combined capacity of 13 plants in the district was more than 300 tons of ore per day. Because total capacity exceeded mine o u t p t , the furnaces operated intermit tent1 y.

Prices, Reserves, and Outlook The yearly average New York prices for selected

years, as reported by the Bureau of Mines, are shown in table 45.

Table 45.--Wercury prices in selected years (Dollars pcr 76-pund ffark)

Current Prices converted prim to I960 dbllars 1

Year

1931 1936 1940 1943 1946 1950 1951 1955 1960 1963 1964 1965

$ 87.35 79.92 176.87 195.21 98.24 8126 210.13 290.35 210.76 189.45

700.00 ai4.81

$199.89 191n20 413.25 343.68 150.44 103,65 249.56 327.71 210.76 182.51 297.83 656.00

1 Constant d o h m derived by appl ing CSP implicit price dcflaror. ?Quoted from Wall StrcetJournt( Junc 7, 1965.

Mining operations in the mercury district of Arm kansas virtualIy depleted ore bodies as they were developed. SmalI ore reserves that remained in 1945 were generaUy too low grade to be mined at low market prices. In a 1944 investigation, the Bureau of Mines estimated that 13 mine dumps in the district contained 21,250 tons of loiv-grade ore having a mercury content of 36,000 pounds. Measured ore reserves were sufficient to produce 200 flasks of mercury; inferred ore reserves could furnish an estimated 3,500 flasks.

Some of the most produrtive mines and most highly mineralized zones are inundated or isolated by Lakc Grceson. R a d upon geologic rharacter- istics of thr csploitcd deposits, it is questionable that future rsploration would discover largc-tonnage deposits. Mining ventures based on astute exploration and efficient ernnomica1 mining might succeed at a time of high market prices for mercury.

Sclrctcd i~fcrcnces: 30, 44, 114, 186, 233, 251,

0 3 318, M.,

202 MINERAL RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES OF ARKANSAS

southeast corner of Ar- kansas and borde

direct acta to ng fadities of the

covered with Quate covered with residu

and low divides

the north.

solidated alluvium

tion of sand and tween 1952 and 1966.

as 420;555 ' tdni repi ted

channel and bank of t 13-14 S, R I W (l-Z>

T 15 S , R 1 W (3, fi

lines of 115-kv capacity transmission lines from

Louisiana conver the Mississippi River

from wells in C1

M-I, M-2, M-3,1' '* '= 6, M-9, M-IO.

CLM coi ry Clark County is in south-centra d r ansas. Trans-

portation faulitiw are shown on figure 48. Terrain of Clark County includes the rolling,

moderately dissected surface of W e t Gulf Coastal Plain in the south half and rugged east-west ridges

Figure 47.- t County.

and valleys of the Athens Plateau in the north. An- tohe and Little Missouri Rivers on the west and south, Quachita and Caddo Rivers on the east and north, and their respective tributaries drain the county. Elevations range from less than 150 feet in the south to more than 700 feet in the north. Local relief ranges from 100 to 400 feet-

Strata of Cretaceous and Tertiary age of the Coastal Plain dip very gently southeast, cross the county in bands that strike northeast, and overlap folded Stanley Shale, Jackfork Sandstone, and the Atoka Formation along a line from the northeast corner of the county to the vicinity of T 8 S, R 23 W. Cretaceous strata include the sequence from Tokia Formation to Arkadelphia Marl. Strata of the Midway and Wilcox Groups crop out in the southeast.

Dissected terrace gravels of Quarternary age border the upper parts of valley slopes on the main streams and the streams cross Recent alluvium.

Mineral Resources Only sand and gravel is exploited at present in

Clark County. Between 1938 and 19&, Arkansas experienced a ' h o r n and bwt" in the mining of mercury ore, which was shared by three mines in the northwest part of Clark County. Clay is abundant but undeveloped. A small amount of shale is shipped to the brick industry at Hope, Hempstead

\

..

I

I I I I

I

---

I

4

R 2 3 W

COUNTY REPORTS

R 22 w 203

T f S

...

T , I O

5

3 5 3

204 . . . .

MINERAL RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES OF ARKANSAS

County. Chalk has been found suitable as natural wool rock. Minor occurrences of antimony jstib- nite) are known.

hthOny.-Thin sparse veinlets of stibnite and pyrite follow bedding planes and fractures in strongly folded sandstone of the Stanley Formation, sec 3, T 6 S, R 20 W ( 1, figure 48) . Beds strike east- west and dip steeply to the south. A crosscutting adit exposes a zone approximately 10 feet thick that is silicified and bears the metal sulfides. The prospect is old and probably of little value for other than for collecting mineral specimens.

Chalk.-Chemical analyses (195) of samples of Saratoga Chalk from NW%NWS sec 32, T S, R 20 W, and S E g N E g sec IO, T 9 S , R 22 W (2-3 figure 48), suggest that the chalk is suitable for “aglirge :’. a 27 to,.35.5 percent. SiQp..content indi- cat= the chalk is suitable for manufacture of rock w d . Resources of chalk have not been measured but are undoubtedly large.

Clay and Shale.-Sediments of the Wilcox Group in southeastern Clark County contain clays that have potential ceramic value. Midwest Research Institute (195) sampled and fie tested a lO-foot bed of white to light-gray and brown-gray, partly carbonaceous, plastic, locally sandy clay in the SW%SW% sec 11, T 9 S, R 19 W (4, figure 48). The day was found suitable for all uses of bail clay including the manufacture of whiteware, stoneware, porcelain, brick, and tile { 195).

A few hundred to a few thousand tons of gray shale is mined annually from a roadside pit in the NE% sec 21, T 6 S, R 19 W (5, figure 48) and is used at Hope as a pigment in the manufacture

tern end of the Ark- mer- into T 7 S, R 22 W, Three

mi& active at various times between 1939 and 1944 yielded between 3,500 and 4,000 Aasks of mercury from cinnabar found in Jackfork Sandstone. Active mines included Humphrey 6 of Humphrey

phrey 34, S E S sec 34, T 6 S, R 23 W ; and Caddo Mine of Caddo Quicksilver Carp., SE% sec I, T 7 S , R 23 W (6-8, figure 48).

The general geology of mercury deposits is dis- cased in the Mercury commodity chapter. OXE bodies in Humphrey 34 occupied fractures in slices between imbricate thrust faults; whereas in Caddo and Humphrey 6 mines, the ore was in the fractured overriding block along thrusts. Ore bodies were irregular, lenticular to spindle-shaped, and steeply pitching. The largest ore body was that in Humphrey 6 mine in which one stope was 100 feet long, I20 feet high, and 30 feet wide (186). Most

Gold COV., S W S se[: 6, T 7 S, R 22 W; Hw-

ore shoots terminated at depths of less than 150 feet. Although the structural and stratigraphic zone

in which cinnabar was found extends eastward almost completely across Clark County, reported presence of cinnabar in this extension has not been confirmed. Thus, the district is essentially without known ore reserves.

Sand and Grave1.-Mining in at least 38 pits has contributed to a relatively small total production of sand and gravel. During 1954-66 total output was about 2,935,000 short tons. In 1966 it was 1,299,000 short tons valued at $1,547,000-

Sand and gravel bars in the bed of Caddo Ever , sec 22, T5 S , R 23 W; sec 31, T 6 S, R 19 W (9 and 10, figure 48) ; and in the Id of Ouachita River, sec 21, T 7 S, R 19 W (11, figure #), have been exploited in the past. AlIuvial deposits in adjoining parts of secs 21 and 28, T 7 S, R 19 W (12, figure 48), include beds of sand and gravel as thick as 20 feet under overburden of 4 to 15 feet of silt and clay. Washed products of this deposit include mammy sand, concrete sand, pea gravel, concrete gravel, and coarse gravel to a maximum size of 3 inches. It is reported that pits have existed since 1925 and the associated plant since 1929. Total output since 1929 is estimated at 2 million tons. Clay-type gravels are associated with terrace

deposits of Quaternary age and with high-level deposits of Tertiary age. Pits are found both east and west of Joan, secs 17, 20 (13-14, figure 48}, and 22-23 and 27, T 7 S , R 18 W (15-18, figure 48) ; near Griffithtown in secs 5 ( 19, figure 48), and 8-9, T 8 S, R 18 W (20, figure 48} ; north and south of State Highway 26 from the vicinity of Halfway to the vicinity of Hollywood, especially in sec 31, T 7 S , R 21 W (21, figure 48) adjacent to State High- way 51 in sec 6, T 10 S, R 21 W, and sec 1, T 10 s, R 22 W (22, figure 48) and near Whelen Springs in secs 34-35, T 10 S, R 20 W (23, figure 48). Because the gravels are normally used for road construction, most of the pits are mined only

The extent of reserves is not available. Deposits south of Arkadelphia are the most extensive. Active deposits m a y contain as much as 10 million tons.

Gravel reserves in a few selected inactive pits are estimated to be more than 2.3 million tons.

occasionally.

Power and Water Several electrical powerlines run northward

across Clark County. Local distribution in the south is through 35-kv Iines. Four gas transmission pipe- lines of I& to 30-inch diameter cross the caunty.

Arkadelphia uses water from the Ouachita fiver. Strata of Cretaceous age in the subsurface are

4 ,I

I

I

i 4

-?

uck. Products of n the cast bank

Sandstone.-Sandst the Blaylock, Hot ns are suitable for

sandstone.

rock was exten-

ment stone. Qthe located in the SW NE% sec 30: T 3 K 18 W.

Tripli.--Two trip T 3 S, R 1 7 W (45,

N E G X E 5 of the section o a southwestward plunging an

sec 29 and in thc NE%- W, and in sec 24, T 3 S ,

ts occur in sec 27,

north flank of where t h e host at 60' in over-

a? 2'10, and on the ne, a 15-foot shaft cient data are not

figurc 68), west of south Rank of the h s been sunk in available to assess lue of the prospects.

ossed by a network of or join with other Remmel Dam on

the Ouachita River. Fivc natural gas and

to 30 inches in dianict from southwest to nort

ugh parts of the county.

nes of the Stanley Formation and at are interlayered

Selected references: 102, 171-712, 14.9, 1 248,-249, 259, 325-327, M-1, M-2, M-3, M-4, M-5, M-5, M-9, M-IO.

COUNTY REPORTS

...

253

Ku JUI

Howara County is in southwest Arkansas. Few of

the transportation routes in Howard County are through routes. Three railroads, paved highways, county roads, and forest trails provide access to much of the county (figure 69).

Figure 69.-€Ioward County.

The southern two-thirds of the county lies in the Gulf Coastal PIain. A gently rolling surface is moderately dissected by streams that have dendritic patterns. Elevations dong streams range from less than 250 feet in the south to approximately 500 feet in the stream bottom near Dierks. Local relief ranges from about 50 feet in the south to about 150 feet on the north edge of the Coastal Plain.

Most of the county north of the Gulf Coastal Plain is in the Athens Plateau of the Ouachita Prov- ince. Athens Plateau is a dissected upland that ranges in elevation from 500 to almost 1,200 feet. Local relief is 150 to 200 feet. East-west ridges and

J

?

COUNTY

are not published. Reserves are coextensive with those of the limesbne in the Annona Chalk.

Shale has not been mined from extensive re- murces in the Stanley Formation d the northern part of the county. Ground shale or clay weathered from the shale is suitable for the manufacture of common brick if blended with alluvial days.

Fragmental, glassy tuffs are found extensiveIy in the Woodbine Fomtion near the base of ,+e Upper Cretaceous section. The tuffaceous beds are composed of coarse and fine grains of volcanic rock mixed with detrital sediments. The weathered products of the tuff are reddish-brown sand, red plastic clay, and bentonite. Tuffs are exposed at numerous places from secs 2 and 10, T 9 S, R 28 W on Blue Bayou, eastward to s e a 2 and 14, T 9 S, R 27 W o n Mine Creek, and as f a r north as s e ~ 20, T 8 S, R 27 W.

Tested samples oE bentonitic tuff from NYz- SWSNE% sec 16, T 9 S , R 2'1 W { 10, figure 69) were found unsuited for ceramic ware, but had bloating properties suited to the manufacture of lightweight aggregate (195). Utility of the i d s as pozzolan is not known and warrants invdgation. No estimate of resemes is available.

Gyprmm.-In 1963, Dierks Lumber Co. opened a wallboard plant in the NE% sec IO, T 8 S, R 27 W ( 11, figure 69) that utilizes gypsum from a deposit that underlies parts of secs 11-15 of the same t o h - ship. The gypsum occurs in De Queen Limestone Member of the Trinity Group. Three very flat beds of gypsum, separated by thin shale partings, have an average total thickness of abut 20 feet. Individ- ual gypsum beds of uniform thickness are mined in three benches subsequent to stripping operations. Overburden consists chiefly of clay and shale. Processing consists of passing the ore through a primary crusher, through a secondary roller mill, classifier, and separatory screens, and subsequent storage for use in wallboard manufacture. Specific estimates of gypsum reserves cannot be

made, but the gypsum beIt in Howard County extends wme 17 miles eastward to the southeastern end of Plaster Huff in Pike County and total resources comprise many millions of tons. Lead and Zinc.-DetaiIed data concerning lead

and zinc de&& are scant. 3uzbee prospect near the center of sec 13, T 7 S, R 29 W { 12, figure 69) is in faulted Jackfork Sandstone that strikes N 20° E and dips 65' NW. FauIt breccia is cemented by quartz and contains a small quantity of resin yellow sphalerite and traces of galena and chalcopyrite. Three shah have been sunk on a 5-foot bed of brecciated sandstone, the deepest of which is more than 80 feet. No production has been recorded.

REPORTS 255

Leite.-Lignite beds are found at several places . in Howard County in the Tokio Formation. Blocky lignite, exposed near the center of sec 10, T 10 S, R 27 W (13, ligure 69), in the banks of Mine Creek, proved unsatisfactory as a fuel for black- mithing. A 3-foot bed of coal with a 2-inch parting of black shale was found in a water well in the PJE@Wf/, set: 22, T 10 S, R 27 W (14, figure 69). Lignite w e reprted in other wells drilled in the vicinity of Minerd Springs.

Sufficient data are not available to make any evaluation of the potential of the Lip& deposits,

Mercury.. le Arkansas "Mercury Belt" extends

of T 7 S , R 27 W. Cinnabar (mercury sulfide) was found in fractured sandstone of the Stanley Forma- tion at a number of prospects which were pitted and trenched in the early 1930's. Recovered ore was retorted in small plants erected near mines. Mercury production records are not available for Howard County, but total output probably did not exceed 10 to 12 (76-pound) flasks of mercury.

Cinnabar is associated with dickite, barite, and limonite. Geologic conditions are generally similar to those found in Pike County. The Rock Fence prospect in the NE%NWS sec 13, T 7 S, R 27 W (17, @re 69) was opened to a depth of 75 feet; a reported 10 to 12 ffasks of mercury from meager ore was-re&Gred. No production was recorded for either the Pyle prospect, SE%SEg sec 13, and N E 5 N E g sec 13, T 7 S, R 27 W, or the Floyd prospect S W g S E S sec 12, T 7 S , R 27 W (15-16, figure 69).

Sand and Gravel.-More than 445,000 tons of sand and gravel was produced in Howard County during 195546. Pike Gravel at the base of the Trinity Group is 20 to 50 feet thick and extremely abundant north of Highway 70 west of Dierks, and north of the county highway that leads east of Dierks through Muddy Fork into Pike Chunty. Pits at the Lucky 13 barite deposit in SW sec 13, T 7 S, IC 28 W ( 18, figure 69) afford excellent exposures of this gravel. Similar deposita are in sec 17 and in the SEgNEg sec 19, T 7 S, R 27 W (19-20, figure 69).

A grave1 pit in ESNE%NW% sec 1, T 9 S, R 28 W (21, figure 69) is opened in basal graveIs of the Tokio Formation. These gravels are 12 to 30 feet thick and cover possibly 500 acres in secs 1 and 12, and eastward into sea 6 and 7 of T 9 S , R 27 W. Extensive terrace deposits of Quaternary age are on the vdley s l o p of Saline River, Mine Creek, and their tributaria. Gravel pits in the vicinity of Mineral Springs, center of S W S sec 8, the N W S S W g sec 18, and the NE%SE%NE~/~

1 a d imo doward Count); in the northern part

dity lips ick. low nta

ena

lays leys

m- s e a by

ton 155 hat Ed sed 0% ex- ne1 of

I.E ral

by

COUNTY REPORTS

increasing where the de-

\ 5 (3, figure 92).

m-electric generat- vera1 115-kv lines

na from Fine Bluff. west and north into

ater include Mis- Sourcs of abu

Cockfield Format Selected referc , 31, 46, 53, 66, 195,

327, M-1, M-2, M 4 , M-4, M4, M-6, M-9, M-10.

R 2 7 Iv

7

9

5

319

Pike Countv extends over 6 re &IS in west-central Lkansas. Principal kansportation routes are shown on figure 93.

The southern one-third of the county lies in the Gulf Coastal Plain. Most of the remainder lies in the Athens Plateau and the very northern part lies in the Novaculite Uplift of the Ouachita Prorince. Elevations range from a low of 240 feet on Little Missouri River in the southeastern corner of the county to a maximum of approximately 1,560 feet along the northern border of the county in the CQS- satot Mountains. Relief ip the Coastal Plain and the Athens Plateau ranges from 50 to 150 feet in the south to 400 to 600 feet in the north. Drainage is through Little Missouri River, Antoine Creek, and Caddo River. Dendritic and trellis drainage patterns, respecriveIy in Gulf Coastal Plain and Athens Plateau, reflect contrasting, gently dipping, and sharply folded strata.

f iks -exposed at the surface in the Ouachita

rl 28 ly R 2 5 k . Q .?a W 2 3 w I f

L E G E N D

S L h T E

STRONTIUM

TAlWLl

FigUte 93.-Pilte County.

COUNTY REPORTS 323

ier- xed 'er-

td- of

vas

in of l i - nl

v: IS

4s d S.

If

e 6

,1

of concentrates comprising 2 1 carloads was shipped in 1942, but some of the conccntrates were from ore that was m i n d elsewhere in the district. No record of this shipment appears in published statistics of the Bureau of Mines.

Most of the ore is found either in upper parts of massive, gray, lower Novaculite or at various places in calcarrous, massive upper Novaculite. Fractures and joints along axial zones of folds and brecciated rock adjacent to faults contain most of the ore deposits. Minable ore bodies are of irregular shape, contain relatively small quantities of ore and much pip, and are irregularly distributed. Linear CX-

tent of mineral-bearing zoncs is as much as 1,000 feet. Downward extent is unknown as the deepest shaft in the area is only 120 feet deep. Exposures were prospcrted by pits and trenches, few of which are mom than 20 feet deep.

Availsbie analyses indicate that manganese content of ores in Pike County is highly variable. Low- grade ore from the Sausrnan mine contained only 9.5 prcent manganese whereas high-grade vein rnatcrial carried 32.66 percent manganese. It is estimated that hand sorting could raise manganese content to 46.43 percent. The richest samples of dried ore from the Still mine contained 30.95 percent manganese. Phosphorus content of samples from the Still or Sausmati mine ranged from a low of 0.1 1 percent to a maximum of 0.461 percent. In general, samples from the area contain more than 0.3 percrnt phosphorus.

Few of thc prospects were developed sufficiently to block out ore bodies. Major reserve consists of ore containing approximately IO percent rnangancse in the Sausrnan mine arid the mine of the North .4rnerican ,Manganese Co. (table 162). In addition, possibly 2,000 tans of milling ore, which will yield between 500 and 600 tons of manganese concentrates containing 25 to 40 percent manganese, is available at the Sausrnan mine and at the Joscph Kehr prospect (31, figure 93).

Little active prospecting has occurred in the area since 1917. During and since World War IT, most activity has been reexamination and revaluation of old prospects and mines. Available information suggests that small-scale mining with concentration of o m by hand cobbing possibly could be successful under Government price suppon. or during periods

7 in the form of cinnabar, was lounty in 1930. (See m e t c q

commoddit): section.) Deposits are known in a zone that cxtends west-southwest across the county from the southern part of T 6 S, R 23 W, through sec 18, T 7 S , R 26 W. Concentrations of cinnabar are

L!-L -.--!.-A . nrrr-

liscovered in k i ~ t :

n

associated with breccia zones and fatiit zones and the axes of minor folds in the overriding sheet of a thrust from the south. (See mtrcury commodity section.) In the east the deposits are in the Jackfork Sandstone. West of sec 25, T 6 S, R 24 W, most of the deposits a r e in the Gap Ridge Sandstone Mern- ber of Stanley Shale.

The locations of at least 40 mines or prospects are known. Few worked ore bodics extended more than 200 feet below the surface. One mine was opened to a depth of 520 feet. Individual ore shoots wcre rapidly depleted and yield was relatively small. Data about mines that yielded more than 500 flasks of mcrrury are listed in table 163. Lake Grceson, completed in 1950, inundated many mine and prospect sites.

Ore rcserva of the district are considered practically depleted because all of the cinnabar easily mined was extracted or has been lost by caving of the old workings. Reserves that exist include mercury recoverable from minc waste dumps by new metallurgical ~ ~ O L X S S ~ S , unmined ore that was left behind because of relatively low grade or difficult mining conditions, and deposits that exist without surface evidence.

Sand and Gravel.-Output of sand and grave1 is relatively small. Fmm 1955 to 1966, approximately 450,000 tons of sand and gravel was mind , most of which was used in local building projects and for maintenance of county roads. Alluvium yieIds sand and gravel for washed products and terrace deposits yield clay gravels for road construction.

Alluvial gravel. dcposits wcre mined in bottom lands of Littlc Missouri River in sec 12, T 6 S, R 27 W; scc 6, T I3 S, R 25 W ; and sec 12, T 8 S, R 26 W (37-39, figure 93). Material mined in sec 6, T 8 S, R 25 W, was used in construction of Narrows Dam. Some gravel beds are 30 feet thick and cover as much as 60 acres. They contain poorly sorted, Inrge and small pebbles of novacuii te, quartz, sandstone, and quartzite, and some sand.

Clay gravels of Quaternary and Cretaccous age are common on valley slopes and uplands. Pike Gravel, the basal member of the Trinity Group of the Lower Cretaceous, lies abundantly and uncon- formably on the truncated edges of folded Palm- zoic strata in T 7 s, Rs 24-26 W. The gravels are rounded to subrounded pebbles and cobbles, mostly novacuIite with some quartz and sandstone, in locally sand to sandy-clay matrix. Crossbedding is prominent. Strata about 100 feet thick near P&e City thin westward, and average thickness is 20 to 50 feet. Deposits of clay gravel mapped in secs 20 and 23, T 7 S , R 25 W (43-44, figure 93) contain an estimated 150,000 tons of reserves.

I

Minerals in Arkansas

i

- 7 - ARKANSAS ENERGY OFFICE

O d 1983

SAND and GRAVEL

Sand and gravel is produced in about 50 counties in Arkansas.

Gravel is commonly considerd as an unconsolidated mixture af rock fragments, pebbles, and boulders of indefinite size but always larger than sand.

Sand is usually defined as an accumulation of mineral grains of sizes ranging from 1/16 to2 millimeters. For many years, the Silica Products Company, Inc., near Guion in Izard County has produced near-pure silica sand. The average unit value for industrial sand in Arkansas was $12.81 per ton in 1981. In decreasing order, industrial sand from lzard County was used for making foundry molds and cores, speciality glassmaking, glass containers, blasting abrasives, and plate and window glass.

Gravel deposits have wide distribution throughout the state. Major deposits occur in terraces, beds, talus slopes, and as alluvial deposits in flood plains and riverbeds and smaller streams. Residual deposits in some areas of the state are suitable for use as road construction materials and, in some cases, in concrete aggregate.

Sand and gravel mining methods and equipment used to recover sand and gravel vary according to the size and type of deposit. A roadside pit may be worked by hand methods. heavy equipment, including bulldozers, while pan scrapers, power shovels, and draglines may ba used in mining large deposits. Sand and gravel is also obtained by dredging from streams and rivers. Dredging equipment usually includes one or more sand pumps with cleaning appa;atus mounted on a self-powered boat, or barge, for storing and transporting the product to s h x e . The washing and sizing plants have become a necessary part of the operation since much gf the material is used in concrete aggregate.

The following county reports tell about the Mation, general geology, description of mineral resources and deposits, and water resource data.

For other information such as production, value and definition of terms, refer to the index and glossary.

MINERAL DISTRIBUTION Minerals found in given tocations are usually related to the geotogic setting of the region

and/or to the type of rocks with which minerals are associated.

The Gulf Coastal Plrlnr and the Mlrslsslppl

phosphate, portland cement, sandstone, shales, silica, and uranium. The Ozark Mountain region contains: copper, dolomite, iron, lead, manganese marble,

The Arkansas River Valley region contains: coals, natural gas, sandstone, and lightweight

acggregatr Em~syment contains: asphalt, bauxite, chalk, clay, fuller’s earth, gravel, greenland,

gypsum, lignite, naturat gas, petroleum, salt and bromine.

Minerals associated with igneous rocks are diamonds, columbium, molybdenum, nickel, rare earth, soapstone, and titanium.

m

n

10

I

- -

I

n

I

II Physiographic provinces of Arkansas,

Counwy ol lhe Ahansas GmIogbc%I CAmrnlsslon (Bulletin No. 6)

MINERAL FUELS Much of the energy that has made possible the industrial development of Arkansas was

derived from Arkansas' own mineral fuels. These fuels include coal, lignite, natural gas, natura' gasoline, and petroleum.

To insure efficient production and wise use of these fuels, energy conservation programs have been instituted and should be enforced.

Coal

Millions of years ago, swampy conditions existed over much of Arkansas, where coal is found now. Vegetable material such as trees, ferns and other plant material, which grew new the swamps, fell into water and werecovered with silt, sand, and mud before they disintegrated. The series of products farmed in order of their alteration are: (I) peat, (2) tignite, (3) hidh- volatile bituminous coat, (4) medium-volatile bituminous coal, (5) low-volatile bituminous coal, (6) semi-anthracite, (7) anthracite, and (8) graphite.

a

CLARK COUNTY

Clark County is in south-central Arkansas. Mlwmt R-- .. _- ..- .--_ . .. .

Only sand and gravel is exploited at present in Clark I . Between i w u a n a 1 ~ 4 4 , d a n s a s e x p e r i m

ll,. then a collapse in the mining of mercury ore, which

* - I

&ed bv three mines in the northwest part of Clark m y . Clay is abundant but undeveloped. A small amount

of share is shipped to the brick industry at Hope in Hempstead County. Chalk has been found suitable Bs natural wool rock. Minor occurrences of antimony (stlbnite) am known.

Antimony - Thin sparse veinlets of stibnite and pyrite follow bedding planes and fractures in strongly-folded sandstone of the Stanley Formation. Beds strike eastwest and dip steeply to the south. A crosscutting adit exposes a zone approximately 10 feet thick that is silicified and bears the metal sulfides. The prospect is old and probably of fittle value other tNa71 fbf collecting mlnsral specimens: Antimony has been mined intermittently in Arkansas since 1873. Presently there are no antimony mines in operatlon. Mining has been carried out by sinking shafts into the ore

'

- - .

_. bodies.

Chalk - Chemical analyses of samples of Saratoga Chalk suggest that the chalk is suitable for Ag-lime; a 27 to 35.5 percent SiO, content indicates the chalk is suitable for manufacture of rock wool. Chalk has been an important additive in the Portland cement industry. Resources of chalk have not been measured but are undoubtedly large.

Clay and shale - Sedlments of the Wilcox Group in southeastern Clark County contain clay that has potential ceramic value. The clay was found suitable for all uses of ball clay including the manufacture of whiteware, stoneware, porcelain, brick;and We. - - ' '

- - . . I- -- - _ - .. . - . . .- --- _...-.-I._ -.-

Sand and gravd - Mining in at least 38 pita has contributed to a relatively small total production of sand and gravel.

Sand and gravel bars in the bed of the Caddo River, and in the bed of the Ouachita River, have been exploited in the past. Alluvial deposits of sand and gravel in adjolning beds have as much as 20 feet of overburden consistlng of 4 to 15 feet of silt and clay. Washed products of this deposit include masonry sand, concrete sand, pea gravel, concrete gravel, and coarse gravel up to 3 inches. Currently within the county, the productive areas mined are in sec 28, f 7 S, R 16 W, sec28, T 7 S, R 19 W, sec 16, T 6 S, R 19 W.

25

52

Ground shale or clay weathered from the shale is suitable for the manufacture of common brick if blended with alluvial clays.

Fragmental, glassy tuffs are found extensiveiy in the Woodbine Formation near the base of the Upper Cretaceous section. The tuffaceous beds are composed of coarse and fine grains of volcanic rock mixed with detrital sediments. The weathered products of the tuff are reddish-brown sand, red plastic clay, and bentonite. Tuffs are exposed at numerous places from secs 2 and IO, T 9 S, R 28 W on Blue Bayou. eastward to secs 2 and 14, T 9 S, R 27 W on Mine Creek, and as far north as sec 20, T 8 S, R 27 W.

Tested samples of bentonitic tuff from N%SW'/INEX sec 16, T 9 S, R 27 W, were found unsuited for ceramic ware, but had bloating properties suited to the manufacture of lightweight aggregate. Utilty of the tuffs as pozzolan is not known and warrants investigation. No estimate of reserves is available.

Gypsum - Specific estimates of gypsum resewes cannot be made, but the gypsum belt in Howard County extends some 17 miles eastward to the southeastern end of Plaster sluff in Pike County and total resources comprise many rniiticns of tons. Active mining areas are in sec 14, T 4 S, R 27 W, and sec 9, T 8 S, R 27 W.

Lead and dnc - Detailed data concerning lead and zinc deposits are scant. Fault breccia is cemented by quartz and contains a small quantity of resin yellow sphalerite and traces of galena and chalcopyrite. No production has been rscordsd.

Llgnite - Lignite beds are found at several places in Howard County in the Tokio Formation. Btocky lignite, exposed near the center of sec 10, T 10 S. R 27 W, is found in the banks of Mine Creek.

sandstone of the Stanley Formation at a number of prospects, which were pitted and trenched in the early 1930s. Recovered ore was retorted in small plants erected near mines. Mercury production records are not available for Howard County, but total output probably did not exceed 10 to 12 (76-pound) flasks of mercury.

Cinnabar is associated with dickite, barite, and limonite. Geoicgic conditions are generally similar to those found in Pike County.

Sand and gnvol - Gravels of Howard County have been used extensively for base course on roads, tor roadstone, and for railroad ballast. The Tokio Formation has been the chief source of gravel for highway constructi

r

8 5

H

and total reserves are probably many miltions of tons. Presently mining activity is localized in sec 21, T 8 S, R 26 W.

Manganese - Despite abundant prospecting of the widespread manganese minerals in the Ouachita Mountains, few minable deposits are developed. About 37 long tons of manganese ore were shipped from the Still mine in the S'A NE% sec 6, T 5 S, R 26 W in 1918.

Most of the ore is found either in upper parts of massive, gray, tower Novaculite or at various places in calcarous, massive upper Novaculite. Fractures and joints along axial zones of folds and brecciated rock adjacent to faults contain most of the ore deposits. Exposures were prospected by pits and trenches, few of which are more than 20 feet deep.

Available analyses indicate that the manganese content of ores in Pike County is highly variable. Lowgrade ore from the Sausman mine contained only 9.5 percent manganese, whereas high-grade vein material carried 32.66 percent manganese. it is estimated that hand-sorting could raise manganese content to 46.43 percent. The richest samples of drled ore from the Stlll mine contained 30.95 percent manganese. The phosphorus content of samples from the Still or Sausman mine ranged from a low of 0.1 1 percent to a maximum of 0.461 percent. In general, samples from the area contain more than 0.3 percent phosphorus.

ihe form of cinnabar, was in 1930. Concentrations of

cinnabar are associated with breccia zones and fault zones and the axes of minor folds in the overriding sheet of a thrust from the south. In the east, the deposits are in the Jackfork Sandstone.

The locations of at least 40 mines or prospects are known. few worked ore bodies extended more than 200 feet below the surface. One mine was opened to B depth of 520 feet. Individual ore shoots were rapidly depleted and yield was relatively small. lake Greeson, completed in 1950, inundated many mine and prospect sites,. . .

Ore reserves of the district are considered practically depleted, because all of the cinnabar easily mined was extracted, or has been lost by caving of the old workings. Reserves that exist include mercury recoverable from mine waste dumps by new metallurgical processes, unmined ore that was left behind because of relatively-low grade or difficult mining conditions, and deposits that exist without surface evidence.

Sand and gravel - Output of sand and gravel is relatively small. AHuviurn yields sand and gravel for washed products and terrace deposits yield clay gravels for road construction.

Alluvial gravel deposits were mined in bottom land of the Llttle Missouri River in sec 12, T 6 S, R 27 W; sec 6, T 8 S,

too

.-

c

'y

Y.

- -

-

I N ARKANSAS

PAULA K , HIGGIMS

ARKANSAS MINING AND MINERAL .RESOURCES_ RESEARCH INSTITUTE

RUSSELLVILLE, ARKANSAS

1 I 1 1 3 f 1

I . Cinnabar (mercury sulfide) deposits are found i n a district t h a t extends about 30 miles from Howard County on t h e west, across Pike County, and i n t o Clark County on t h e east . More t h a n 100 occurrences are found i n the one and one-fourth mi les wide zone, but fewer than 10 mines have accounted for most of the . + ou tpu t . Currently there i s no produc- t i o n i n Arkansas.

The mercury deposits o f Arkansas are i n the Athens Plateau. The host rocks are sandstone beds of t h e Stanley Shale For,mation o f M i s s i s - s ipp ian age and the Jackfork Sandstone Formation o f Pennsylvanian age. S t r a t a s t r ike generally east-west and d i p south on t h e limbs of sharp folds. S t r a t a and f o l d s are broken by a major thrust f a u l t from the south and are broken by numerous tear faults. Smaller s-shaped f o l d s and drag fo lds were developed co inc ident w i t h major movements.

Significant ore deposits l i e i n broken sandstone beds i n f a u l t zones, a t f a u l t intersections, and i n permeable s t r a t a i n . f o l d s where mineral -bearing s o ? u t i o n s were trapped by impermeable shale. Apparently, t h e frequency and extent o f fractures govern s i z e o f t h e ore deposits. Generally, t h i n seams of cinnabar f i l l f ractures i n sandstone; locally cinnabar i s broadly disseminated in sandstone, Quartz, d i c k i t e , pyr i te , and r a r e l y s t i b n i t e are gangue minerals. Ore deposits a t f a u l t intersec- t i ons are pipelike and those adjacent t o single f a u l t s , brecciated t ones , or para l le l to bedding planes are t a b u l a r . Rare large crystals o f cinnabar develop in open f i s s u r e s i n the sandstone. Small q u a n t i t i e s o f n a t i v e mercury, calomel, eg les ton i te , rnetacinnabar, and l i v i n g s t o n i t e are found locally.

11. The f i r s t s i g n i f i c a n t deposit of mercury was discovered in Arkansas i n 1931. Original production was short l i v e d , ending in 1946 as a resul t of a sharp decline i n pr ice a t the end o f World War 13. Tota l output o f about 11,400 (76 pound) f l a s k s was reported. Since 1946, t he only reported production has been 27 f l a s k s produced i n 1965 a t a mill loca ted one m i l e south of Kirby, Arkansas, on Highway 2 7 .

111. Mercury i s used i n e lec t r ica l apparatus mildew proofing pa in t , electrolytic production o f chlorine and caus t ic soda, i ndus t r i a l and cont ro l instruments, pharmaceuticals, slime c o n t r o l -compounds f o r paper and p u l p manufacture, dental preparations, general 1 aboratory use, fungi- c i d e s , amalgamation, and mercury boilers.

Important military uses of mercury i n c l u d e f u l m i n a t e f o r detonating explosives, calomel f o r tracer bullets, and chemical warfare compounds.

I V . Mining operations i n the mercury district of Arkansas virtually depleted ore i n 1945 were prices. In a

&dies as they were developed. Ore reserves t h a t remained genera l l y too low grade t o be mined a t the then ?ow market 1944 i nves t i ga t i on , the Bureau o f Mines estimated t h a t 13

1 * 19 -

MERCURY ( C I "ABAR)

mine dumps j n the d i s t r i c t contained 21,250 t o n s of low-grade ore having a mercury content of 36,000 pounds. Measured ore reserves could f u rn i sh an estimated 3,500 f l a s k s .

Some of the most productive mines and most high ly mineralized zones are inundated or i solated by Lake Greeson Based upon geo? ogi c character - i s t i c s of t h e exploited deposits, i t i s questionable t h a t future explora- t i on would d i scover 1 arge-tonnage deposits , Mining ventures based on astu te exp? o r a t i on and eff i c i g_t__.-ec-coymi-~aI- mini rrg -might . succeed a t a time -of - high--market prices for mercury. Detai led explorat ion probably should consist of surf ace mappi '19, close spaced geochemical and geophy- sical surveys, core dri 11 ing , and possibly some trenching and p i t t i n g .

i

c

- 20 -

. . .

6 9 3

l. u biennium rep0 rf i · 2007. 10. 31. · ouachita mountain shales shales are associated with...

Documents